A Club of Incumbents? The African Union and Coups d\u27Etat

This Article considers the response of the Organization for African Unity (the OAU, founded in 1963) and its successor, the African Union (the AU, which began operating in 2003) to coups d\u27etat, since 1997. The Article addresses these organizations\u27 policies concerning unconstitutional changes of government, as well as the application of these policies. In considering these issues, the Article examines the response of the AU to the coups in Togo (2005), Mauritania (2005 and 2008), Guinea (2008), Madagascar (2009), and Niger (2010). In each case, the AU was unwilling to recognize the government that came to power through coup, even when the regime had popular and political support within the state. The Article concludes by arguing that the AU should pursue a more nuanced policy in this area

Evaluation of the Use of Faas for Sr/ca Concentration Analysis of Porites From Ambon Bay and Jukung Island Coral

The ratio of Sr/Ca concentration in coral is usually used as paleothermometer. Inductively Coupled Plasma (ICP) is an instrument, which is often used to analyze Sr/Ca concentration in Porites sp. The method is very sensitive and requires small amount of sample. However, the availability of this instrument is very limited. To deal with it, Flame Atomic Adsorption Spectrophotometer (FAAS) is an alternative in order to analyze the concentration of various elements include Sr and Ca. The aim of this study was to evaluate the result of the analysis methods of strontium and calcium concentration in coral using FAAS and compared to ICP results. Sample of Porites coral was taken from Ambon Bay and Jukung Island. The strontium and calcium concentration were analyzed using Flame Atomic Adsorption Spectrophotometer (FAAS). The results showed that the average of ratio Sr/Ca in coral from Ambon Bay and Jukung Island were 8.71 and 7.708 mmol/mol. The monthly variation of ratio Sr/Ca in coral from Ambon Bay were 6.28 - 10.24 mmol/mol, while in coral from Jukung Island were 1.005 - 10.914 mmol/mol. Result of FAAS analysis was too broad in range compared to ICP, ie 8.462 - 8.807 dan 8.45 – 8.7 mmol/mol. The range was estimated due to the occurrence of strontium and calcium ionization reaction in flame of FAAS

Kajian Operasional Tempat Pelelangan Ikan (Tpi) dan Kesejahteraan Masyarakat Nelayan (Studi Kasus Desa Watukarung Kecamatan Pringkuku Kabupaten Pacitan)

This study is motivated by great marine potential, but the condition of the fishing community is generally poor. This is a potential obstacle for fishing communities to encourage the dynamics of development in their region. Sub-district Pringkuku in 2008 has a total of 529 fishermen with 62.94 percent in the poor category. The purpose of this study is (1) to know the operational of Fish Auction Site (TPI) of Watukarung Village and (2) to know how the operation of Fish Auction Site (TPI) in improving the prosperity of local fishermen community. This study uses descriptive and qualitative methods. Methods of data collection by interviewing and documenting information from 11 informants who have roles in different economic interactions. The results of this study are (1) the operational of the fishermen depends on the interaction of the fishermen and the fisherman who are tied up with a unique profit-sharing system that is understood and obeyed by all parties, (2) The fish auction place (TPI) All stakeholders in TPI also influence the formation of the price of catch with auction system

Kerapatan dan Keanekaragaman Jenis Lamun di Desa Ponelo, Kecamatan Ponelo Kepulauan, Kabupaten Gorontalo Utara

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui kerapatan dan keanekaragaman jenis lamun (seagrass) di Desa Ponelo, Kecamatan Ponelo Kepulauan, Kabupaten Gorontalo Utara.Desa Ponelo merupakan bagian dari Pulau Ponelo yang memiliki potensi sumberdaya hayati laut yang beragam, salah satunya adalah ekosistem padang lamun. Penelitian ini dilaksanakan pada Bulan Oktober sampai Desember2012. Pengambilan sampel menggunakan metode transek garis (linetransek) dengan cara sistematis dengan menggunakan kuadran 1x1 m. Semua jenis lamun yang terdapat dalam kuadran dihitung dan diidentifikasi. Wilayah kajian dibagi menjadi tiga stasiun yaitu Stasiun I (dekat pemukiman), Stasiun II ( tidak berpemukiman), dan Stasiun III (dekat mangrove). Untuk mengetahui perbedaan antar stasiun dilakukan analisis varians (ANOVA) dengan bantuan SPSS (statistical package for the social sciences) versi 16.Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa di perairan Desa Ponelo teridentifikasi 8 jenis lamun yang termasuk dalam Famili Potamogetonaceae dan Hidrocaritaceae yaitu Enhalus acoroides, Thalassia hemprichii, Cymodoceae rontudata, Cymodoceae serrulata, Halophila ovalis, Halophila minor, Halodule uninervis, dan Syringodium isoetifolium. Tingkat kerapatan jenis cukup bervariasi dengan tingkat tertinggi adalah jenis Thalassiahemprichii mencapai 62,13 tegakan/m2 pada Stasiun II dan terendah jenis Halophila minor dengan nilai 1,33 tegakan/m2 yang terdapat pada Stasiun III. Nilai kerapatan jenis total tertinggi ditemukan pada Stasiun III yaitu sebesar 116,87 tegakan/m2dan yang terendah ditemukan pada Stasiun I yaitu sebesar 96,97tegakan/m2. Nilai indeks keanekaragaman tertinggi terdapat pada Stasiun I yaitu 0,79, kemudian disusul oleh Stasiun III yaitu 0,77 dengan kategori keanekaragaman tinggi dan yang terendah terdapat pada Stasiun II yaitu 0,56 yang termasuk dalam kategori tingkat keanekaragaman sedang. Parameter lingkungan terukur yaitu suhu berkisar 29,4-30 oC, salinitas 30-35, dan pH berkisar antara 6,81-6,82

PENERAPAN IPTEK KEPADA KELOMPOK PEMILAH MANGAN DI KABUPATEN KUPANG

Masyarakat di Desa Ekateta Kecamatan Fatuleu Kabupaten Kupang. Ada yang memiliki pekerjaan sebagai pemilah batuan yang mengandung logam mmangan (Mn). Para pekerja merupakan penduduk desa yang dilibatkan oleh suatu perusahaan yang memiliki Ijin Usaha Tambang (IUP) untuk memisahkan mangan dari batuan pengikutnya dengan cara “hand sorting”. Para pekerja ini tidak dilengkapi peralatan K3 maupun fasilitas dalam memilah mangan. Jumlah pekerja tidak menentu tergantung banyaknya tumpukan mangan yang digali oleh alat berat perusahaan. Permasalahan utama dari para pekerja adalah mereka tidak dapat memilah batuan mangan yang berukuran kurang dari 2 cm karena selain lebih mudah mengumpulkan batuan mangan yang berukuran lebih besar dari 5 cm. Metode kegiatan berupa penyampaian materi mengenai teknis penambangan mangan, K3 dalam usaha pertambangan, perhitungan ekonomis yang didapatkan jika bisa mengambil mangan yang berukuran kurang dari 2 cm menggunakan alat bantu mekanis berupa trommel screen dan log washer. Dampak dari kegiatan pengabdian ini adalah menimbulkan motivasi para pemilah untuk bermitra dengan kampus dalam menghasilkan prototipe alat yang bisa digunakan sebagai pemilah mekanis untuk mendapatkan batuanpembawa mangan yang berukuran kurang dari 2 cm

Antifibrinolytic Role of a Bee Venom Serine Protease Inhibitor That Acts as a Plasmin Inhibitor

Bee venom is a rich source of pharmacologically active substances. In this study, we identified a bumblebee (Bombus ignitus) venom Kunitz-type serine protease inhibitor (Bi-KTI) that acts as a plasmin inhibitor. Bi-KTI showed no detectable inhibitory effect on factor Xa, thrombin, or tissue plasminogen activator. In contrast, Bi-KTI strongly inhibited plasmin, indicating that it acts as an antifibrinolytic agent; however, this inhibitory ability was two-fold weaker than that of aprotinin. The fibrin(ogen)olytic activities of B. ignitus venom serine protease (Bi-VSP) and plasmin in the presence of Bi-KTI indicate that Bi-KTI targets plasmin more specifically than Bi-VSP. These findings demonstrate a novel mechanism by which bumblebee venom affects the hemostatic system through the antifibrinolytic activity of Bi-KTI and through Bi-VSP-mediated fibrin(ogen)olytic activities, raising interest in Bi-KTI and Bi-VSP as potential clinical agents

A Survey of New Temperature-Sensitive, Embryonic-Lethal Mutations in C. elegans: 24 Alleles of Thirteen Genes

To study essential maternal gene requirements in the early C. elegans embryo, we have screened for temperature-sensitive, embryonic lethal mutations in an effort to bypass essential zygotic requirements for such genes during larval and adult germline development. With conditional alleles, multiple essential requirements can be examined by shifting at different times from the permissive temperature of 15°C to the restrictive temperature of 26°C. Here we describe 24 conditional mutations that affect 13 different loci and report the identity of the gene mutations responsible for the conditional lethality in 22 of the mutants. All but four are mis-sense mutations, with two mutations affecting splice sites, another creating an in-frame deletion, and one creating a premature stop codon. Almost all of the mis-sense mutations affect residues conserved in orthologs, and thus may be useful for engineering conditional mutations in other organisms. We find that 62% of the mutants display additional phenotypes when shifted to the restrictive temperature as L1 larvae, in addition to causing embryonic lethality after L4 upshifts. Remarkably, we also found that 13 out of the 24 mutations appear to be fast-acting, making them particularly useful for careful dissection of multiple essential requirements. Our findings highlight the value of C. elegans for identifying useful temperature-sensitive mutations in essential genes, and provide new insights into the requirements for some of the affected loci

Regulation of Heterochromatin Assembly on Unpaired Chromosomes during Caenorhabditis elegans Meiosis by Components of a Small RNA-Mediated Pathway

Many organisms have a mechanism for down regulating the expression of non-synapsed chromosomes and chromosomal regions during meiosis. This phenomenon is thought to function in genome defense. During early meiosis in Caenorhabditis elegans, unpaired chromosomes (e.g., the male X chromosome) become enriched for a modification associated with heterochromatin and transcriptional repression, dimethylation of histone H3 on lysine 9 (H3K9me2). This enrichment requires activity of the cellular RNA-directed RNA polymerase, EGO-1. Here we use genetic mutation, RNA interference, immunofluorescence microscopy, fluorescence in situ hybridization, and molecular cloning methods to identify and analyze three additional regulators of meiotic H3K9me2 distribution: CSR-1 (a Piwi/PAZ/Argonaute protein), EKL-1 (a Tudor domain protein), and DRH-3 (a DEAH/D-box helicase). In csr-1, ekl-1, and drh-3 mutant males, we observed a reduction in H3K9me2 accumulation on the unpaired X chromosome and an increase in H3K9me2 accumulation on paired autosomes relative to controls. We observed a similar shift in H3K9me2 pattern in hermaphrodites that carry unpaired chromosomes. Based on several assays, we conclude that ectopic H3K9me2 accumulates on paired and synapsed chromosomes in these mutants. We propose alternative models for how a small RNA-mediated pathway may regulate H3K9me2 accumulation during meiosis. We also describe the germline phenotypes of csr-1, ekl-1, and drh-3 mutants. Our genetic data suggest that these factors, together with EGO-1, participate in a regulatory network to promote diverse aspects of development

Improved functionalization of oleic acid-coated iron oxide nanoparticles for biomedical applications

Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles can providemultiple benefits for biomedical applications in aqueous environments such asmagnetic separation or magnetic resonance imaging. To increase the colloidal stability and allow subsequent reactions, the introduction of hydrophilic functional groups onto the particles’ surface is essential. During this process, the original coating is exchanged by preferably covalently bonded ligands such as trialkoxysilanes. The duration of the silane exchange reaction, which commonly takes more than 24 h, is an important drawback for this approach. In this paper, we present a novel method, which introduces ultrasonication as an energy source to dramatically accelerate this process, resulting in high-quality waterdispersible nanoparticles around 10 nmin size. To prove the generic character, different functional groups were introduced on the surface including polyethylene glycol chains, carboxylic acid, amine, and thiol groups. Their colloidal stability in various aqueous buffer solutions as well as human plasma and serum was investigated to allow implementation in biomedical and sensing applications.status: publishe